About the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition

Alliance of National Heritage Areas | Heritage Partners | Environmental Stewardship

About Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition
The Ohio & Erie Canal opened up the frontier settlement of Ohio and provided settlers with a reliable form of transportation to ship products. This unique waterway is being rediscovered as communities seek to celebrate their heritage while stimulating community & economic development. Today, there is renewed interest in the preservation, development and interpretation along the resources of the Ohio & Erie Canal as it extends from the New Philadelphia to Cleveland.

Established in 1989, Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition is a private, non-profit organization working on the development of the Ohio & Erie Canal Heritage Canalway. The Coalition provides educational programs, events and publications about the Heritage Canalway while developing strong working relationships with partners to preserve and interpret the natural, historical and recreational resources throughout the corridor.

Natural Resources
The Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway represents a biological mosaic with natural systems of forests, bogs, marshes, streams and lakes that are interspersed with cities, towns and villages, orchards, and croplands.

Zoar Village

Historical Resources
Throughout the Heritage Canalway, from the urban centers to the rural countrysides, there are remnants of locks and structures associated with the development and growth of the Ohio & Erie Canal, the nation's first inland waterway link between the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico.

Recreational Resources
The Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway provides many recreational opportunities including bicycling, hiking, bird watching, horseback riding, fishing and canoeing, to the five million people living within a 50 mile radius.

AES along the canal in downtown Akron

Economic Development
The Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway effort encourages government officials, community volunteers, and businesses to work together. This collective energy attracts investment while maintaining a high quality of life. In addition the Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway creates employment opportunities in the region.

Board Members

Chris Burnham, Chairman
Jon Elsasser, First Vice Chairman
Nicholas M. Gattozzi, III, Second Vice Chairman
Jeff Herald, Treasurer
Mike Hoffman, Secretary

Rob Bobel
Gene P. Boerner
Kindra Browning, D.O.
Malcolm Costa
Todd W. Ederer
David Ewing
Kathy Fernandez
Nickolas M. Gattozzi, III
Jeffrey A. Herold
Mike Hoffman
Karl Lucas
Mitchell A. McCoy
Ed Metzger
Lori A. Simonelli
Lois A. Sumegi
J. Bret Treier
Gregory Theirl

Staff

Daniel M. Rice, President & Chief Executive Officer
Debora S. Rolland, Vice President of Operations & Development
Susan Reid, Project Manager
Bryan Edwards, Executive Assistant

Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition
520 South Main Street, Suite 2452
Akron, Ohio 44311
330-434-5657